“The status of women in ancient India witnessed a shift from reverence to subordination.” Discuss this statement in light of the representation of women in ancient Indian literature.

Answer: 

Approach to the answer:

The answer should discuss the overall status of women in that age and may provide instances of women who attained extraordinary prominence in the political or economic arenas that are discussed in the ancient literature.  

• For Example: Women were permitted to join the Sabha and Vidhata during the Rig Vedic era.  They held a respectable place in the community. The absence of any reference to child marriage in the Rig Veda suggests that women were permitted to achieve their full potential. Due to agriculture and the transfer of the primary resource from cattle to territory/land, women’s standing declined in the later Vedic period as a result of their reliance on their male counterparts.

Overview:  

Provide a succinct overview of women’s history from the dawn of time to the present and Stress the value of comprehending women’s status in antiquity and its applicability now.  

Body: Use literature as a primary source to support your response, and concentrate on women’s standing rather than men’s.

In summary:  

Provides an overview of the contributions made by women in the past and the motivation they provide for women in the present and Provides a summary by demonstrating that, despite improve ments in women’s status, current circumstances remain comparable.

• Example: In ancient India, women’s caste and familial origin played a major role in determining their political, social, and economic standing. In general, women’s standing in ancient India was complicated and diverse, with some eras providing greater freedoms and opportunities than others.

Practice Question: Compare and contrast the portrayal of women in the Epics (Ramayana and Mahabharata) and Sangam literature. What do these texts reveal about regional variations in women’s status in ancient India?

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